Red Obelisk
Flamingo
Pelican
Scuba Divers
Wooden Shipwreck
Hawksbill Turtle
Graysby
Spotted Cleaner Shrimp
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Personal Impressions
Bonaire is a leader in marine conservation and a paradise for scuba divers. Because the whole island
and also Klein-Bonaire is a Marine Park, the underwater-world is unspoiled. Bonaire's pristine
reefs and diverse marine life are unique to the Caribbean. It's the only Caribbean island where
plastic bags are not permitted, which is very praiseworthy.
The island itself is relatively flat
and desert-like. The few sand beaches are not worth to mention. Beside bird watching the main
attraction is underwater. You can step off the shore and explore the underwater reefs from almost
everywhere. The short flight from Curacao in a small airplane offers great views.
I highly
recommend Bonaire to every scuba diver. Diving prices are higher than on Curacao, but lower than on
most other Caribbean islands. The reef dive at Klein Bonaire was the best dive I ever did.
= STRIEWA =
History The
first inhabitants of Bonaire were the Caquetio people, who arrived on
the island around 1000 AD. These indigenous groups lived off the land
and sea and left behind a rich cultural legacy of art and music.
In
1499, the island was discovered by the Spanish explorer Alonso de
Ojeda, who claimed it for the Spanish Crown. However, Spanish
colonization of the island was limited, and it remained relatively
isolated for several centuries.
In the 17th century, Bonaire
became a center of salt production, with vast salt pans being
established on the island's southern coast. The salt industry became a
major source of income for the island, and it continued to thrive for
several centuries.
In the 19th century, Bonaire came under the
control of the Dutch, who established a formal colony on the island.
The Dutch government invested heavily in the salt industry, and Bonaire
became a key producer of salt for the global market.
During
World War II, Bonaire played a strategic role as a base for the Allied
forces in the Caribbean. The island was home to a large American
military base, which helped to secure the region and protect vital
shipping routes.
In 2010, Bonaire became a special municipality
of the Netherlands, and it is now an integral part of the Dutch
kingdom. Today, the island is known for its stunning natural beauty,
its rich cultural heritage, and its thriving tourism industry.
Bonaire
is a peaceful and stable democracy, with a strong economy based on
tourism, fishing, and salt production. The island remains a popular
destination for scuba divers and snorkelers, who come to explore its
vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life.
Attractions
Kralendijk Kralendijk is the
capital city and main port of Bonaire. The language spoken in the town
is Papiamentu, but Dutch and English are widely used. Koralendijk is
dutch and means "coral reef" or "coral dike". The population is about
threethousand. Scuba Diving in the Marine Park Bonaire is a paradise for divers and snorkelers, thanks to its
well-protected and vibrant reef, which is considered one of the
healthiest in the world. In 1979, the Bonaire National Marine Park was
established, encircling almost the entire island, to preserve and care
for this unique ecosystem. Bonaire's commitment to reef conservation is
why it is one of the best destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling. The
marine park is home to an impressive variety of sea creatures,
including seahorses, octopuses, giant blue parrotfish, groupers,
trumpetfish, giant angelfish, and many others. With over ninety dive
sites, the majority of which are accessible from the shore, there is
something for everyone. The best visibility is between February and
April, and it never drops below 30 meters. The fringing reef lies close
to the shore, at usually no more than ten meters. Most divers choose
to rent a vehicle to explore the island's waters at their own pace, but
boat dives are also available from all dive centers. The waters
surrounding Bonaire are nutrient-rich, which explains the incredible
marine diversity of over 300 different fish species. In summary,
Bonaire offers an unparalleled opportunity for scuba divers and
snorkelers to experience the beauty of a well-preserved reef system
that is home to a wide range of fascinating marine life.
Klein Bonaire
Klein Bonaire (Dutch for "Little Bonaire") is a small uninhabited
island 800 meter off the west coast. It can be reached by water taxi,
or, for divers, by practically all of the local dive operators. Klein
Bonaire is part of the Bonaire National Marine Park and offers
world-class diving in pristine, coral-rich waters. The only structures
on the island are some ruins of slave huts.
Bird Watching
Bonaire has no endemic species of birds, however, there are a number of subspecies, or
geographical races that are restricted to just the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The island boasts over 190 species including the Lora (Amazon parrot), which is now protected
against capture by international treaty. Bonaire's most famous bird is the pink flamingo.
Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary
The Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary is a unique and stunning location where
Flamingos breed, making it one of only four such areas in the world. The
sanctuary is situated on the vast saltpans at the southern end of the island
and is home to over ten thousand flamingoes. Pekelmeer, which means "pink
lake" in Dutch, is named for the pools that appear pink against the white
salt flats. This effect is due to an abundance of tiny rosy brine shrimp that
live in the water, providing a strikingly beautiful sight.
While tourists are not allowed in the sanctuary, the birds can be observed
with binoculars from the road or nearby Pink Beach. The Caribbean flamingo,
with its vivid and colorful appearance, is the most striking of all flamingo
species. Their red carotene-rich diet gives them a distinctive pink hue. The
sanctuary also attracts numerous other species of birds, including osprey,
cormorants, heron, and frigate birds, making it a must-see destination for any
birdwatching enthusiast.
Washington-Slagbaai National Park
This nature sanctuary in the Northwest part of the island was the first preserve in the
Netherlands Antilles. The name Washington goes back to the 1920s, when the Herrera family first
purchased the property and named it "America" and later changed it to Washington. It is a safe
habitat for the terrestrial native and endemic species of Bonaire. Parrots, flamingos, parakeets,
iguanas and many other species of birds and reptiles can be found in this reserve. The beaches
inside the park are an important nesting ground for all four species of sea turtles found in the
Caribbean. The park was once a divi-divi, aloe, charcoal, and goat plantation. It was sold to the
government at the end of the 1960s on the condition that the land remains in its natural state.
Mangrove Information Center
The Mangrove Information Center is a research and excursion center. Visitors to the center learn
about the mangroves, one of the most unknown and most endangered environments on our planet. The
Mangrove Information Center offers guided kayak and solar boat tours through the beautiful
mangrove forest of Lac Bay on Bonaire's western coastline. The center has a big aquarium for
basic research.
Rincón
Rincón is Bonaire's oldest village, founded by the first colonial rulers, the Spanish, in
the 16th century. It used to house slaves who worked on the salt flats. Today the town is famous
for its pastel-coloured homes. Rincon is located in the inland of Northwest Bonaire in a hilly
area which turns into the Washington-Slagbaai National Park.
Slave Huts
These huts were constructed in 1850 during the slavery time. In the past Bonaire's main industry
was the production of sea salt. In the days of slavery, men and women were forced to work as
saltrakers in the salt evaporation pans of Bonaire's south shore. Slaves were housed in small
huts in cramped conditions close to salt pan harvesting sites.
Coloured Obelisks
Four Obelisks on Bonaire were used as navigational shore markers to guide ships coming in to
load. The obelisks were painted red, white, blue, and orange (the colours of the Dutch flag). The
red obelisk is near the slave huts, the white obelisk is near Pink Beach, the blue obelisk is
near the Salt Pier, the orange one is gone.
Fort Oranje
One of the oldest buildings of Bonaire is Fort Oranje, a small fortress with high walls situated
a short distance from the coast. Four big guns and a large garrison patrolled the fort from the
beginning of 17th century to defend Bonaire's main harbor. Thanks to this impressive power
it was never attacked. The fort was extensively modified during the end of the seventeenth
century. Until 1837, the fort was used by the commander of Bonaire. 1940 Dutch and German
citizens were transported to Bonaire and interned in a camp just south of the fort. After World
War II, this camp was converted into a hotel, which is now the Divi Bonaire. Fort Oranje houses
historical artefacts from Bonaire's past.
Bonaire Museum
Bonaire Museum in Kralendijk is housed in a plantation mansion that has been restored to its
original splendour. The collection of this museum consists of a great number of archaeological
findings, including urns and prehistoric utensils. You can see antique furniture, household
items, agricultural tools, ship navigation devices, musical instruments, cannon bullets and
antique firearms. It has also a photo collection of old black and white photographs and more
recent colour photographs of Bonaire.
Butterfly Farm
The Bonaire Butterfly Farm near Lac Cai is a butterfly-filled tropical garden surrounded by
numerous cactus trees and prickly bushes. The Farm shows butterflies that live in the area in and
around the Caribbean. Butterflies are not taken from the wild but bred for captivity.
Rooi Lamoenchi Reserve
The private Rooi Lamoenchi Reserve, east of Kralendijk, is a model of the past plantation life.
The cactus-flanked plantation building sits among aloe vera fields and dam remnants from
1908.
Rock Paintings
At about ten places on Bonaire you can find in and around caves a large number of historic Indian
rock paintings. The most interesting places can be found at Boka Onima, Spelonk and Cueba di
Roshikiri.
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Slave Huts
Flamingo
Royal Tern
Trupials on a big Cactus
Old Shipwreck
Spotted Moray Eel
Goldentail Moray Eel
Spotted Cleaner Shrimp
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